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Muddy color and dull figure comes from using the wrong stabilizers.
K&G uses a different formula with Koa than what is used for maple and other woods.
Any Koa I have ever sent to them for stabilizing has always come back with an improved appearance.

off the topic stuff
as exotic as koa and harder than desert ironwood, try some of our aussie ringed gidgee, courtesy of mark :P Wonder why Mark is not stocking this anymore?

I have been trying to get another batch of Ringed Gidgee with this quality figure for over a year now.
The guy I got this stuff from was the only one who was ever able to provide the great figure without checks and cracks.
I guess I had better try to get in touch with him again because I love this stuff.
It even smells good when you sand it. Kind of a nutty aroma.

as exotic as koa and harder than desert ironwood, try some of our aussie ringed gidgee, courtesy of mark :P Wonder why Mark is not stocking this anymore?

A problem with the gidgee is that it darkens very fast and the figure becomes barely visible. Great wood to work, good weight and density, polishes well, but expose it to water and air, and it becomes a dark block. I personally would not use it again.

"All beauty that has no foundation in use, soon grows distasteful and needs continuous replacement with something new." The Shakers' saying.

Like ironwood there can be a lot of variations in the coloring.
It can oxidize and darken a bit if you don't apply a waterproof finish.
Another bad thing to do with gidgee is power buffing. Smears the figure and muddies the coloring.
Takes a different method than other dense woods but those who have worked things out are getting spectacular results that last.
MS Russ Andrews gets really good results with his method of finishing gidgee.